Saint Veronica

Saint Veronica is an original artwork realized by the Italian artist Simone Pignoni (Florence, 1611 - 1698) in the first half of the XVII century.

Oil on canvas.

Very good conditions.

As is well known, the painter executed several versions of his works and for this reason, in addition to the superb executive technique, this painting is attributable to Simone Pignoni.

Our specimen is an original copy of the oil painting conserved in the Church of St. Eusebio in Cegliolo (Cortona).

In the Musée des Beaux-Arts of Marseille, there is another version, considered an ancient reproduction of mediocre quality by an anonymous painter.

It is difficult to establish a precise date of execution of the painting. The only Pigoni's artworks with a certain chronology are the public ones,or of a sacred subjects. 

The free and fluid brushstrokes, the lit Venetian chromatism makes this artwork a superb old master masterpiece. 

Simone Pignoni (Florence, 1611-1698) was one of the most important exponents of the Florentine School, famous for his soft touch. Pignoni was trained in the workshops of Domenico Passignano, Fabrizio Boschi and Francesco Furini, his most important master. His education with Francesco Furini provided him with the opportunity to develop a sensual and delicate painting style. The bright glares, common in his style, could be compared to those in the works of Genoese painters, for example Valerio Castello. 

The youth Pignoni lived in Northern Italy, where he studied the great Venetian masters of the sixteenth century and updated his palette on the exeample of  Emilian and Lombard painters..

Reference :

F. Baldassari, Simone Pignoni (Firenze 1611-1698) , Artema, Turin 2008, pp. 166-167;

F. Baldassari, La pittura del Seicento a Firenze. Indice degli artisti e delle loro opere, Torino, 2009